EU anti-dumping duties do not help local stainless steel production

Despite anti-dumping duties imposed on imports of cold rolled stainless steel from China and Taiwan, local factories in Europe continue to grapple with poor demand from a slowdown in the global economy led by China.

In 2013, EU imports from China and Taiwan accounted for up to 17 percent of the European market, which collapsed following the closure of the Outokumpu plant in Bochum, reducing melt capacities in Europe by 10 percent. Due to weak end-use demand, the aforementioned duties were able to protect the share of local mills in the domestic market, but did nothing to increase their pricing policy.